You can’t miss ’em. Vibrant, orange pumpkins decorating storefronts, school rooms, and houses are everywhere during October, and your little ones will notice them. Stop and point them out and say PUMPKIN a couple times while signing it:To sign PUMPKIN in ASL, middle finger is held connected to thumb, then is flicked onto the back of the other hand which is held in a fist.

Even better than seeing pumpkins is holding and playing with a big pumpkin, or eating pumpkin. Have some fun with signing PUMPKIN this week, and stay tuned for more HALLOWEEN signs!

My family is participating in Light the Night in Vancouver this evening -a walk to raise funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada. It occurs to me as I write this that many of you don’t know my father because he died of cancer at the age of 43, when I was 10. He was one of those incredible people that embodied life and charm and vitality, and I miss him every single day. He’s been gone much longer than I ever had him, and although I know he’s with me and my family today in different ways, it’s not the same as having him here, alive, with us. Not even remotely the same.

I have two other friends whose fathers passed away of cancer, one specifically of leukemia. My husband, Scott, lost his grandparents to cancer, and his cousin, Chelsea passed away from an incredibly rare form of brain cancer just last summer leaving 4 small kids under the age of five. The list goes on.

We all know someone.

This cause is very close to our hearts, and we are joining this walk with our dear, dear friend, Sara Sutton and her family, who bravely and thankfully showed lymphoma that it was no match for her two years ago.

Tonight, we will be walking for them, with them, and to benefit them. Maybe you want to light a candle or lantern tonight and think about those you know and love who felt the impact of cancer. I felt it was really important for my kids, aged 8 and 12 years, to participate and perhaps begin to understand how we can try to make a difference while we celebrate the triumphs and mourn the losses. They are old enough now to be a part of change, not just hear or learn about it. So we will be walking and lighting the night.

Of course, these two ASL signs are very usable signs for babies and kids, too!

The ASL sign for LIGHT -middle finger and thumb are connected, then middle finger flicks upward on the underside of the chin twice lightly.

NIGHT (or “evening”)
The ASL sign for NIGHT -one arm is held horizontally, palm down, while other hand arcs forward from behind flat arm to rest its wrist on the top of your flat hand.

If you are interested in donating, here is the link for our family’s team within the mighty Vancouver Team Sutton.

It’s Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend, and I’m incredibly thankful for more things than I can mention in one post. I’m not quite sure why or how, but I’m a lucky girl with a healthy family, loving husband, incredible friends, and a job I passionately love doing. I’m so grateful, and I love sharing with you what I can -sign language for Thanksgiving!

Here are the ASL signs of some words you might be talking about this weekend in Canada (and still to come in November for my American friends)!

THANK YOU – fingertips start near the mouth and then arc forwards towards the person you are thanking.

THANKSGIVING – your fist with index finger & thumb extended and pointing down taps on chin, then taps on chest

TURKEY -your fist with index finger & thumb extended and pointed down is held under the chin, then waved sideways back and forth a few times (kind of like the wattle of a turkey).

A very Happy Canadian Thanksgiving to you, my friends!

-Lee Ann

HAPPY – starting at the top of the chest, your flat open hands brush upwards a couple times
THANKSGIVING – your fist with index finger & thumb extended and pointing down taps on chin, then taps on chest